10 things you need to know when working with a funder as a freelance assessor.

This blog walks you through essential steps I've learned as an assessor when starting work with a funder. Get these steps in place and you'll be smashing your assessor contracts in no time.

1: Get clarity on the fund you’re assessing for

Before you start work, make sure you understand exactly what you are assessing. This means confirming the details of the fund, the programme guidance and criteria.

From experience, even small misunderstandings at this stage can lead to time consuming assessment moderation later on as you review each one to make them consistent.  Ensure you have all the programme guidance to hand before your start.

2: Attend and use the Assessment Briefing

If there is an assessment briefing (often a Teams call once the programme has closed to applications), treat it as essential, not optional. This is typically a meeting with the funder and sometimes other assessors, designed to walk you through requirements and allow questions. This is a great opportunity to get to know the funder and:

• Clarify your interpretation of criteria

• Understand scoring expectations

• Spot any grey areas before assessments begin

3: Confirm the deadlines

Always confirm with the funder:

• When you can start assessments

• When they must be submitted by

• Any other key dates such as internal team meetings, the window for the funder to query your work once you've submitted it, and the date grant decisions will be made

This helps you stay organised and on time.

4: Understand the assessment framework

The assessment framework is essentially the template you’ll use and the areas the funder wants you to cover in your assessments.

It's not just an admin document and can contain super helpful information such as:

• How detailed your feedback should be

• The criteria you should use for scoring

• Specific areas they want you to look for when assessing

5: Agree allocation, time expectations, and your rate

I've found it's always helpful to confirm certain things before I start assessing. These include:

• How many assessments you are completing

• How long each assessment is expected to take

• The agreed rate (per assessment, per hour, or per day)

Some funders don't stipulate how long an assessment should take, but if you're being paid per assessment, it's good to have an idea of this so you can make sure you are getting value for money.  Alternatively, if a funder says an assessment should take 30 mins and you take 1 hour then you might want to consider this too.

6: Clarify whether you are expected to raise queries with applicants

Not all funds allow assessors to contact applicants directly. You need to know:

• Whether you can ask applicants questions

• How communication should happen (email, phone, Teams call, etc.)

Don't assume you have permission to contact applicants. Always follow the funder's process, ensuring you are clear on how they want you to do this.

7: Understand which grants system you are using

You should confirm:

• Which grants system is used

• How you access it

• Where and how assessments are submitted

Try and get your access set up nice and early so when your window for assessing opens you can get on with it straight away.

8: Know your key contacts

Identify who your main contacts are within the funder's organisation for questions or issues so if and when they arise you can ask queries swiftly when you're on a tight deadline.

9: Confirm invoicing and payment terms

Before you start, confirm:

• When you can invoice (monthly or end of contract)

• Payment terms

• Who invoices should be sent to

Getting paid is essential! When you've finished all your hard work on those assessments, you want to know who to send your invoice to. Finding this out early means no delays in getting paid.

10: Agree how you’ll communicate throughout the contract

Finally, confirm when and how often you’ll check in with the funder. Regular communication helps keep work on track, resolve issues early, and maintain a positive working relationship.

You don't need to be in touch all the time but a regular email lets them know you're there and getting on with the job. This can give them peace of mind and keeps communication open for when you do have queries you need quick answers to.

If you get these things right at the beginning, the assessment work itself becomes the easy part. You also have peace of mind you've protected your professional boundaries and can deliver high quality assessments. Good luck!